Appendix F Flag Football Playing Rules and Policies KNIGHTS FLAG FOOTBALL RULES Playing Rules shall be in accordance with the American Youth Football Flag and Touch Rules & the NFHS Football Rules with the following exceptions. SECTION I: AGE CLASSES OF PLAY Flag Developmental League: Open to boys and girls age 4 and 5 who are entering Kindergarten. Flag Football League: Open to boys and girls ages 6, 7 and 8* who are entering 1st or 2nd grade. In addition, 3rd graders who weigh less than 65lbs are also eligible. 3rd graders who exceed 65lbs are required to play on the 79ers tackle team. Under specific circumstances, 3rd graders weighing over 65lbs and not ready for tackle football, may petition the Board for approval to continue playing in the flag football division. *Regardless of above circumstances, any 8yr old player who will turn 9 before 12/31 of the same year will not be allowed to continue play in the flag football division SECTION II: KNIGHTS FLAG REGULATIONS RULE 1: THE GAME, FIELD, PLAYERS AND EQUIPMENT Section 1. General Provisions Article 1. The Game - will be played between two teams of 11 players each on a rectangular field with an official football suited to the age of the players involved in the game. Article 2. Goal Lines - for each team shall be established at opposite ends of the field, and each team shall be allowed the opportunity to advance the ball across their opponent’s goal line by running or passing. Article 3. Winning Team - the team having the highest score at the end of the game, unless it is forfeited, shall be declared the winner. Wins and Losses are not tracked. Article 4. Game Officials. The game shall be played under the supervision of at least 2 officials. Article 5. Team Captain(s). The coach will designate to the referee, the team captain(s). Article 6. Subject to the Rules. All participants are subject to rules of the game and shall be governed by the decisions of the game officials. Article 7. Maximum of 2 Coaches on the field during play Section 2. THE FIELD Article 1. Zone Markings. The field shall be marked in 10-yard zones from goal line to goal line. Article 2. Inbounds/Out-of Bounds. The lines bounding the sidelines and end-zones are out of bounds in their entirety. The inbounds area is also bound by the lines. The end zone is part of the width of the field. Article 3. Size of Field. Regulation 100-yard field. Article 4. Down Marker. A down marker shall be used to indicate the number of the down and where the ball is placed on the field. Section 3. THE BALL Article 1. Specifications. The official ball will be: Wilson K2 for both development and flag football leagues Article 2. Use of Ball. The referee shall be the sole judge of any ball offered for play and may change the ball at his discretion. During the game, each team may use its own ball as long as it meets the legal class standard. Section 4. EQUIPMENT Article 1. Legal Equipment. Players of opposing teams must wear contrasting colored jerseys with numbers on the rear. The visiting team is responsible for changes that are required. Article 2. No jersey or pants may cover any portion of a player’s flag. Jerseys must be tucked into pants. Article 3. Each player on the field must wear a one piece belt with three flags permanently attached. One flag will be on each side and one at the center of the back. The flags will be one of contrasting colors to their opponent’s flags. Article 4. Additional Allowable Equipment. Shoes will be non-detachable molded rubber cleats, detachable/screw-in style cleats are not allowed. Sneakers may also be worn. Article 5. Illegal Equipment. Prohibited: Hard-shell headgear of any nature, body pads, shoulder pads, shoes with removable cleats. Article 6. Mandatory. Mouth guard must be worn at all times. RULE 2: PLAYERS Section 1. ROSTERS Article 1. KNIGHTS Flag teams shall have a roster minimum of 8 and a maximum of 24 players per team. Article 2. Players who play tackle football are ineligible for Flag teams during the same season. Article 3. Players may not be added to the Official Roster after September 30th without Board approval. Section 2. 8 Play Rule Article 1. Coaches will make every effort to give each player a minimum of 8 plays per game. Only plays from the line of scrimmage are considered legitimate plays. Extra point tries do not count as plays. Section 3. PLAYERS – GENERAL Article 1. KNIGHTS Flag football is 11-player football. The NFHS rules govern eligible receivers. Article 2. If enrollment impacts roster size and 11-man football is not an option, the Flag Director and Flag Head Coaches can adjust Rules accordingly in regards to playing specifications and the field size. Article 3. There will be free substitution. All substitutes must report to the huddle. Article 4. If a player is injured and play is stopped, the injured player must leave the game for a minimum of one play. RULE 3: LENGTH OF GAMES Section 1. TIME SEGMENTS Article 1. KNIGHTS Flag games will consist of 4, 12 minute running quarters. Article 2. There will be a maximum of 1 minute water break at the end of the 1st and 3rd quarter, Teams continue to play same direction, Play direction only changes at halftime Article 3. There will be 2 time outs per team per half unless it is an official’s time out. Article 4. There will be a maximum of 5 minutes allowed for halftime. Article 5. Time only stops for team and official timeouts or touchdowns within 2:00 minutes of each half. 5.1 If a timeout is called after a Touchdown time will resume at the snap after the change of possession (clock remains stopped throughout extra point). 5.2 If a Touchdown is scored within 2:00 minutes (2 minutes or less remaining) of the 2nd or 4th quarter the time will stop and resume at the snap after the change of possession. Article 6. In lieu of a formal play clock, Coaches should make every effort to avoid excessive time in huddle. As a general guideline, it should take no longer than 1 minute in between downs to huddle, break, get to the LOS and run a play. After repeated warning from referee. A 5 yard delay of game penalty will be enforced. Article 7. Official time outs include equipment or injury time outs. 7.1 Game Officials have option to stop time at their discretion if needed. RULE 4: SCORING Section 1. TYPES OF SCORES Article 1. Touchdown is 6 points Article 2. Point after touchdown is 1 point for a running play or 2 points for a passing play. Passing play is defined as any overhand throw to an eligible receiver, regardless of direction. Underhand throw or pitch is not a passing play. Article 3. The ball will be placed on the 3 yard line in the center of the field for point after touchdown plays. If a defensive player returns a PAT, scoring follows same above, 2 points for pass (interception return), 1 point for handoff or pitch. Article 4. Safety is 2 points RULE 5: PRACTICES Section 1. GUIDELINES Article 1. Flag practice is limited to 3 days a week prior to the start of school. Once school has started, practice is limited to 2 days a week. If a game is canceled a team can chose to practice 3 days in a given week. Article 2. Flag practice may start at 5:00pm and must end by 7:30pm with a maximum time limit of 1.5 hours. SECTION III: PLAYING SPECIFICATIONS RULE 1: STARTING THE GAME Article 1. Coin Toss - at the beginning of a game, a coin is tossed by the referee and the winner gets the choice of possession the first half or second half. The opposing team has the option of which goal to defend. These choices will be reversed for the second half. Article 2. There is no kickoff, the receiving team starts on their 40 yard line. RULE 2: FIRST DOWNS Article 1. Four downs are allowed to advance the ball into the next zone (normal 4 downs, 10 yards). Article 2. The ball should be placed at the spot of the de-flagging or dead ball whistle between the hashes (officials discretion based on field conditions). If the spot from the end of the previous play is outside the hash mark, the ball should be placed on the hash. RULE 3: GIVING UP THE BALL Article 1. On 4th down the offence has the option to try one more play or announce to the referee that they will give up the ball, giving them the option to “punt”. The referee picks up the ball and steps off 30 yards to the defensive team’s goal. (There will be no kicked balls) Article 2. The defensive team goes on offense from the placement of the ball with first and 10 to go. RULE 4: DE-FLAGGING Article 1. The ball carrier is downed when his flag has been detached from his belt for any reason or if either knee touches the ground. Article 2. The defensive player holds the flag over his head and stops at the point of de- flagging. Article 3. Only the ball carrier’s flag can be removed. Removing flags of other players is illegal and could result in a penalty.